PIA Press ReleaseThursday, January 12, 2012

Rural barangays to participate in 2012 ‘Pasalamat’ festival

by Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA) –- “This year’s street dancing is different from the previous years,” revealed Mayor Samuel S. Co during the first press conference for 2012 held recently at the city mayor’s office.

Co said, during the past years, only the urban barangays were given the opportunity by the ‘Pasalamat’ festival steering committee to join the contest considering that they have the sufficient resources to meet the requirements needed for the contest. “This year, we enjoin the rural barangays participate in the street dance contest because they are part of the celebration,” Co explained.

The chief executive said what makes the street dancing contest different is, “we doubled the prizes, we have increased the prizes this year to encourage active involvement and greater participation of the 54 barangays to make the annual parochial fiesta, a joyful celebration,” Co added.

A total of P670,000 fund was allocated by the ‘Pasalamat’ festival steering committee for the contest.

It can be recalled that last year’s prizes were as follows: first prize -P40,000, second prize - P35,000, third prize - P30,000, fourth prize -P25,000, fifth prize- P20,000, and consolation prizes of P20,000 per non-winning contingent.

Co said with the participation of rural barangays, the total number of contingents have reached to 23 where it used to have 19 last year. “Twenty three contingents will slug it out for the P100-T grand prize for the ‘Pasalamat’ festival,” co declared.

“With the large number of participants, definitely we will have a very lively street dancing parade,” Co assured.

Co said this time, the public will no longer witness a ‘dance showdown’ from the performers in station A at corner B. Aquino and Rizal Avenue and station B at Rizal avenue (in front of Gaisano Capital Mall) saying that all of the participants usually got tired after the showdown. “ It’s no longer street dancing because the participants will only perform at stations A and B and they will hike on the streets going to gym for the final venue of showdown and ritual,” Co explained.

The contingents who will be wearing an elaborate costumes will be dancing from Aquino street, to national highway, Alano st, and up to the gym, where a showdown and ritual will be held. The judges will choose the best contingents based on execution, props, and costume, and etc. on the abovementioned streets, Co said.

Asked if participants are allowed to import instrument players and trainors, Co said they are allowed to bring in players and trainors considering that there are only 6 days left before the day of the celebration. “We have insufficient musical instruments and props that these contingents will use during the contest. There are only 6 groups who have complete musical instruments,” Co reported.

The chief executive encouraged the spectators to be part also of the celebration by dancing while watching the different contingents in the streets. “Watching spectators dancing, certainly we will have a joyous and festive atmosphere on the streets,” Co concluded. (JPA/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian City)